Watching Home Birth Videos Helped Elizabeth Achieve Home Water Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

My water broke as I was putting leftover pizza in the microwave, after being in our new house for less than 24 hours... contractions started immediately and were about 5-7 minutes apart!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Explaining to people that I’m perfectly capable of delivering a healthy baby at home, and that my midwife is perfectly capable of handling most “situations” that might happen. She delivered all three of my babies!

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

The first time around, watching videos of other home births really helped me. I focused on the fact that my body was made to give birth and baby will come out no matter what! And also, remembering “this too shall pass” when labor pains were most intense!

What surprised you about your birth?

My first birth was the longest- at 19 hours. But my son ended up being 11# 8oz, and 24” long. He still holds the record for “first birth” with my midwife, who has attended almost 900 births. My second son was 3 hours start to finish, and I was only in the birth tub for about 5 minutes before he was born! He was 10# even, and 23” long. This latest birth was 3.5 hours, and very similar to my second- as soon as I got in the birth tub things progressed very quickly and after only about ten back-to-back contractions my third son was out! He was the smallest, at 9# 2oz, and 22 1/4” long. Maybe that was the biggest surprise about this birth, that my third was my smallest! I finally had a “newborn”! He actually can still wear newborn clothes two weeks later!

Unbelievable!! As soon as the second contraction birthed his body, I shouted “YES!!” And flipped over to hold my baby... I couldn’t stop crying from a mixture of relief (to be done with the pain!) and the joy of meeting my new baby!!

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Breathing. Never stop breathing. Groaning and moaning helped too, even if only in my head!

What position did you end up delivering in?

In the birth tub, leaning over the side of the tub gripping those handles for dear life. I guess the “froggy” position best explains how I was in the tub.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

Unbelievable!! As soon as the second contraction birthed his body, I shouted “YES!!” And flipped over to hold my baby... I couldn’t stop crying from a mixture of relief (to be done with the pain!) and the joy of meeting my new baby!!

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Just trust your body!